UMW faithful show out in Charlottesville despite loss

by THOMAS JACKSON

Sports Editor

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — On Wednesday, the University of Mary Washington’s men’s soccer team traveled to face the University of Virginia at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville. This matchup was only the second time in UMW history that the two teams have faced off against each other, according to U.Va. Athletics. 

The previously undefeated UMW Eagles were ultimately bested by the U.Va. Cavaliers in a final score of 4–2. The teams first went head to head in 2021 when the Cavaliers similarly defeated the Eagles 2–0. The reason for their few meetings is that the teams play in different NCAA divisions. The Cavaliers are a Division I team with a 2024 season record of 8–5–3 and the Eagles play in Division III with a record of 15–1–1. 

Going into this game, the Eagles were ranked first in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for seven consecutive weeks. Because of the dominating season and the rarity of this matchup, UMW Athletics offered to purchase tickets for any UMW faculty, staff member or student interested in attending the game. According to Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Clint Often, approximately 100 people reserved tickets. 

“I was surprised by how many Mary Wash fans there were,” said junior nursing major Madison Mayes, who attended the game. “There were probably just as many UMW fans as there were UVA fans. Everyone was super enthusiastic about the game.”

Despite the built-up excitement, UMW’s Sammy Amorose, a junior biology major, along with the rest of the team, treated this game like it was against any other school.

“I don’t think that the mindset has changed heading into the game. No matter the circumstances we are ready to work for each other whether that’s a game or in practice,” he said. “We are treating this like every game week we have had this year and trying to prepare for what will be a tough game against a D I school.”

Amorose would continue believing that this game would be a good test for the team going against this Division I rival. 

“This game is a great opportunity to showcase what our team is capable of doing,” he said.

Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee sent a campus-wide email on Oct. 4, advertising the free ticket offer. To Amorose, this shows Mary Washington’s commitment to their teams. 

“We are extremely grateful for both UMW and our student body,” he said. “UMW offering to pay for the tickets of those who want to come shows their commitment to supporting their teams while they’re away at tough games like UVA.”

More than just showing commitment, Amorose believes that support from the UMW fanbase helps them win games.

“When the games get tough and we have everyone cheering us on and behind our backs, it pushes us to play better and harder to get the win,” he said.

Mayes says that acquiring the free ticket from UMW was an easy process and made it an easy decision to attend the game despite its distance. 

“All I had to do was put my email in saying I wanted a ticket,” she said. “Then a few weeks later I was sent a ticket that I just downloaded to my phone. Overall, it is very easy to get tickets.”

During the game, UMW would have a slow first period, giving up three goals to U.Va., the first not even being from a Cavalier shot attempt. In the 24th minute, after an errant back-pass, Mary Washington scored in their own net. The next two goals would both be scored by U.Va. freshman Joaquín Brizuela, a reserve player for Argentinian football club Godoy Cruz. The first would be a header assisted by senior Paul Wiese and sophomore Cesar Cordova, an MLS reserve player for the Houston Dynamo, in the 38th minute, with the second being a shot off of a pass from Cordova in the 41st minute. 

Despite their second-half deficit, the Eagles were determined to play their best game. 

“Us as players talked about how we need to go out with more intensity and play our game,” said Amorose. “We had a rough start being down at halftime but we knew we could turn it around in the second half in our favor.”

Halftime would be a reset for the Eagles, coming out of the break graduate student Jared Dubose would score after an assist by Amorose in the 52nd minute. After senior political science major Carter Berg was awarded a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, he would score and take the ball from the net, running in front of the UMW side of supporters to celebrate with the crowd. Unfortunately for Mary Washington, the attempted comeback was shut down in the 80th minute after U.Va. sophomore Brendan Lambe, a player on the MLS Atlanta United reserve team, scored on a penalty kick.

Even if UMW did not get the result they wanted, the team as a whole fought with a tough mindset, which Dubose believes will be important in the postseason.

“It was a really good test for us, and with all that said I believe we can compete with anybody,” he said. “Not one of us, sub or starter, let our head drop and we continued to fight, continued to push, and going into the tournament that’s a big thing that we need.”

Looking past the final score, Amorose believes that this loss benefits the team as a learning experience that will help them improve. 

“The lessons learned from this game are very positive,” he said. “We made mistakes just like everyone does but we learned from that and improved as the game went on.”

Despite the loss, Mayes said she was impressed by the team’s energy and believes that the nearly two-hour drive was well worth it. 

“If UMW and UVA played again I would definitely go,” she said. “To watch Mary Wash play such a high-intensity game with a very well-known team is something I hope to see again in my time here.”

The Eagle’s next match will be on the road against Christopher Newport University on Nov. 2.

“We know that we did well against a tough opponent but if we can play up to that level against every team the sky’s the limit for our team,” said Amorose.